Twilight (**) Not THAT one – is a movie out of time
It is sad, but time waits for no one.
Netflix’ The Midnight Sky (**) is almost hopeless
The 7th directorial effort by George Clooney is a beautiful, boring, and predictable story that skips the exciting parts, instead focusing on dread, misery and fading hope in the light of humanity. It is the type of film designed to be called brave, but is more an exercise of muscles that are best left unflexed.
Criterion: The Hills Have Eyes (**) clunking through legends
The film would be better if there were more characters like the dog The Beast. At least that character knows when to stay quiet and when to sneak up behind an idiot savage and push him off of a high place.
Criterion: The Crazies (**) is a rough draft for a better film
There are occasional good moments here and there, but overall, the skill is somewhat below local theater troupe making an even lower budget version of Home for Purim.
Criterion Ganja & Hess (**) has history on its side
Fair or not, the film that results is worth one time through, and more if you can bear it. I had to stop on my second trip.
Friday the 13th Chronology continued: The expensive trash +2 good fan films
The best thing about the Never Hike… series is the way it takes its time getting to actual kills. It has confidence and is in no hurry.
Criterion: Death Line / Raw Meat (**) because Brando couldn’t make it
This film will be more for those curious about the process of how we got from blood going down the drain in black and white in Pscyho to where film in the early ’80’s is so gross.
3 Turns of the Screw: The Nightcomers, The Turning and Netflix’ The Haunting of Bly Manor
Of the three James’ inspired works, The Haunting of Bly Manor is the one that is truly inspired, even if it’s not as scary as we’d hope.
The Lie (**): Parent Trap
How one reacts to The Lie will depend on how far along they ride with its conceit.
Sorry To Bother You (**) Comedy + Woke = Not funny
Riley and company might create a compelling version of his story a few films from now. For now it just feels like something we’re supposed to learn, which is rarely funny.
Another Look: Step-Brothers (Unrated) Why did Holmes & Watson fail?
There’s almost enough here to make a movie that’s not half bad.
Criterion: The Idiot (**) – Pure soul / faithless world / messy film
There is no known full version of this film. If there were, it might take me a year to finish. It would likely be a lot better, though.
Cocktail (**) For a movie, it is a good soundtrack
See it if you want to see the kind of film Cruise made before he completely took control of his career. It’s not worth sitting through otherwise, just to hum along.
The Voices (**) I know Karate
Reynolds does his very best straight face through all of Jerry’s challenges. He’s completely hidden any idea that he’s in on the joke. Or even that it is intended to be a joke.
Gretel and Hansel (**) Mephistopheles is not your name
The dread / fascination with and of Krige feels more like a weekend spent with a widowed aunt who just can’t wait to tell you her recipe for fruitcake.
The Turning (**) doesn’t make it all the way around
There isn’t enough here to qualify for halfway satisfying. If they had pushed a little harder to complete the circle, maybe. Not this. This is an incomplete scare handed off into thin air.
